It's true. The specifics don't matter all that much to anyone else anyway.

[ it's a surprise, izō actually using the word boyfriend. but then he'd outright called emily his girlfriend as well, so maybe it's a sign that ryouma is the one lagging behind. this is the sort of thing he'd told izō he wanted to know about anyway, right? ]

Honestly, I'm surprised he didn't either. I think he just cut me a break because it was a pretty pathetic showing all around. And I think he at least knows how far I'm willing to go for this.

[ far from his best work, he mostly floundered through it to the end and survived by the skin of his teeth. he has a lot to be grateful for. ]

... And how much I'd do to protect you.

[ it would be a lie to say that doesn't factor into all of his decisions. they are having a conversation, he supposes. ]